FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1989
1989 - 0153.PDF
WATCHDOG to the danger of collision with large icebergs. The lanes between the Faroe Islands and Iceland are patrolled jointly by the Icelandic Coast Guard and the Danish Coast Guard, which uses a Lynx helicopter for ice patrol. Search and rescue Search and rescue (SAR) missions form an important part of the Coast Guard's work. Last year 50 such missions were flown by the Icelandic Coast Guard's three aircraft. Up to late December 1988, 66 SAR missions had been flown in the year, 14 by the F.27 and 52 by the Dauphin. According to Halldorsson, a typical mission involves locating a missing fishing boat. When an Icelandic fishing boat fails to report in by radio, which it has to do twice a day, the Coast Guard is alerted and tries to contact the boat using coastal systems. If this proves unsuccessful, the F.27 is launched to start the search and act as the co-ordinator. If necessary, the F.27 enlists the help of other ships near the search area. Another SAR mission concerns ditchings by light aircraft. Such incidents are becoming increasingly common, according to Halldorsson, and are often caused by the stupidity or inexperience of a pilot. If neces sary, the F.27 can drop liferafts to survivors in the water, ready for the arrival of one of the helicopters, which can then winch the ditched aircrew to safety. Transatlantic ferry flights by light aircraft follow a route from North America via southern Greenland (Narssarssuaq) and Reykjavik to the United Kingdom. If an aircraft ditches within a 150 n.m. radius of Reykjavik, the Dauphin is launched to attend the incident. For any incident beyond this limit an HH-3E "Jolly Green Giant" from the USAF's 56th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron at Keflavik Naval Air Station is scrambled. Ambulance flights are a regular part of the Coast Guard's duties. They are usually performed by the SA.365, and more than 40 such missions were flown last year. A heli copter is sometimes required to attend road traffic accidents if they occur in inaccessible areas. In such cases a doctor from one of Reykjavik's hospitals accompanies the crew. Five doctors from Reykjavik work with the Coast Guard, and between them provide round-the-clock cover. On several occasions the Dauphin has been airborne and on the way to an incident 15min after receiving the call; 25min is an average response time. The transfer of very sick patients from one hospital to another is conducted by the Coast Guard helicopters. Copenhagen and London are likely destinations in the case of kidney patients needing more specialised care than Reykjavik's hospitals can provide. The costs of these flights are covered by the Icelandic Ministry of Health. There is close co-operation between the Coast Guard and the country's National Life Saving Association (NLSA). Every week between the months of September and April all seamen on NLSA courses undergo their first experience of being winched from a ship and out of the water into a helicopter. Training exercises Flight was invited to fly with the Coast Guard on one such mission. The short preflight briefing from the chief pilot revealed that the mission involved a variety of tasks—winching seamen off a fishing trawler, from the water, and from a liferaft. The exercise formed the practical test at the end of a five-day NLSA course. With a takeoff weight of 3,590kg, the Dauphin set off on a one-hour mission, followed by the Ecureuil. We were soon hovering over the ship in a bay close to Reykjavik, the Dauphin posi tioning itself ready for the winchman to be lowered to the ship. Two people were hoisted from the deck of the trawler. The next part of the drill was unsuccessful because the liferaft failed to inflate, so it was decided to continue with the next exercise and winch seamen from the sea. Several seamen in immersion suits were taken out from the trawler in an inflatable dinghy and winched from the sea into the Dauphin. The Icelandic Coast Guard's aircraft and patrol vessels perform a host of varied and critical tasks. Funding is hard to secure, but few Icelanders would argue against an increase in this funding, especially if it were spent- on a new and larger rescue helicopter, which the service undeniably needs. As one islander says, "If anyone needs a large rescue helicopter, it is our Coast Guard". JJ FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL, 21 January 1989 39
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
